Botanist's Corner

Published: Tuesday, April 9, 2013 at 08:00 AM.

We have in bloom a small tree called a “Fringe Tree,” or sometimes known as “Old Man’s Beard.” This small deciduous tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a native of Northwest Florida and grows where you have a high water table. The flowers appear about the same time as new leaves and form clusters of narrow pendulant petals that are creamy white or white and about an inch in length. This information may be found in the publication “Forest Trees of Florida” and is available at the Florida Department of Agriculture. You can see these trees in the 1300 block of Airport Road.

One of the most beautiful plants this time of year is Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus). You may see four specimens at Innovations Federal Credit Union on 23rd Street. This makes a massive shrub, or you may prune it into a small tree.

Some other shrubs are Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis), which grows quickly to 20 feet or more. Other hardy ones for Northwest Florida are “Red Clusters” and Texas Scarlet. The flowers of the Bottlebrush are nectar rich and attract small birds.

The plant I want to mention is the tree-form of India Hawthorne. You may see this tree-form on 23rd Street at the Tyndall Federal Credit Union drive-thru. Many varieties are available as shrubs for foundation planting or along a shrubbery border. This shrub is virtually indestructible and is ideal for hot, sunny, dry spots, including parking areas and near the beach.

We have in bloom a small tree called a “Fringe Tree,” or sometimes known as “Old Man’s Beard.” This small deciduous tree (Chionanthus virginicus) is a native of Northwest Florida and grows where you have a high water table. The flowers appear about the same time as new leaves and form clusters of narrow pendulant petals that are creamy white or white and about an inch in length. This information may be found in the publication “Forest Trees of Florida” and is available at the Florida Department of Agriculture. You can see these trees in the 1300 block of Airport Road.

One of the most beautiful plants this time of year is Bottlebrush (Callistemon citrinus). You may see four specimens at Innovations Federal Credit Union on 23rd Street. This makes a massive shrub, or you may prune it into a small tree.

Some other shrubs are Weeping Bottlebrush (Callistemon viminalis), which grows quickly to 20 feet or more. Other hardy ones for Northwest Florida are “Red Clusters” and Texas Scarlet. The flowers of the Bottlebrush are nectar rich and attract small birds.

The plant I want to mention is the tree-form of India Hawthorne. You may see this tree-form on 23rd Street at the Tyndall Federal Credit Union drive-thru. Many varieties are available as shrubs for foundation planting or along a shrubbery border. This shrub is virtually indestructible and is ideal for hot, sunny, dry spots, including parking areas and near the beach.